Memorable games at Citi Field

In 2009 the Mets opened a brand new stadium, and while the results for the team have been disapointing the past few years, the stadium has seen its share of memorable games. Compiled by Matt Saur

(Credit: J. Conrad Williams Jr.)

APRIL 3, 2009: METS 4, RED SOX 3
The Mets opened up Citi Field with an exhibition game on a cold, damp day against the Red Sox. Francisco Rodriguez earned the save.

(Credit: Newsday/Audrey C. Tiernan)

APRIL 13, 2009: PADRES 6, METS 5
The first official game at Citi Field started with Tom Seaver tossing a ceremonial first-pitch strike to Mike Piazza. The Padres’ Jody Gerut hit the first home run in the ballpark’s history. Mike Pelfrey struggled early, and the Mets couldn’t climb out of the hole despite David Wright’s three-run homer in the fifth.

JUNE 28, 2009: YANKEES 4, METS 2Mariano Rivera achieved a pair of milestones in the Yankees’ two-run win over the Mets. First, he picked up his first career RBI, drawing a bases loaded walk against Francisco Rodriguez in the top of the ninth inning. Then, he shut the door in the bottom of the inning for his 500th career save.

(Credit: David Pokress)

AUG. 23, 2009: PHILLIES 9, METS 7
The Phillies added insult to injury against the Mets, turning the first unassisted, game-ending triple play. With runners on first and second and none out, Jeff Franceour lined out to Eric Bruntlett, who stepped on second for the second out of the inning, then tagged Daniel Murphy to end the game.

(Credit: Newsday/Christopher Pasatieri)

MAY 7-8, 2010: METS 6, GIANTS 4; METS 5, GIANTS 4
A pair of catchers became the answer to a trivia question for the Mets. Rod Barajas hit a walk-off two-run homer on May 7, and Henry Blanco hit a walk-off homer in the 11th the following night.It marked thefirst time in MLB history that a pair of catchers hit walk-off home runs on consecutive nights.

(Credit: Kathy Kmonicek)

MAY 25-27, 2010: METS VS. PHILLIES
For three days, the Phillies were clueless against Mets pitching. New York picked up a home sweep via three shutouts against their NL East rivals.

(Credit: Christopher Pasatieri)

Oct. 1, 2010: Mets 2, Nationals 1
A meaningless late-season game gave Mets fans a taste of what the future of the team held, with Ike Davis and Josh Thole each hitting solo home runs – Thole’s a walk-off shot against Tyler Clippard in the 10th – in the win.

JUNE 2, 2011: METS 9, PIRATES 8Mike Pelfrey threw a dud, digging the Mets into a 7-0 hole in the third inning against the Pirates. However, the Mets’ bullpen held Pittsburgh in check, and New York’s bats eventually came alive. Ruben Tejada hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to give the Mets their first lead of the game, and Francisco Rodriguez hung on for the save in the ninth to complete the comeback.

(Credit: Jim McIsaac)

JUNE 22, 2011: METS 3, A’S 2
Francisco Rodriguez blew a 2-1 lead in the ninth, sending New York and Oakland to extra innings. In the bottom of the 13th, Justin Turner was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Mets a walk-off win.